Anyone deal with having Flat nipples?

sasha_2013 · October 2016

This is baby # 2 so far she has made it two weeks past what her big brother did, I'm 37 weeks now, he was to small to latch but I pumped and fed him breast milk through a bottle. I have big boobs and my nipples appear to be flat, but will perk out upon stimulation. Has anyone delt with this or know some tips to help? I really want to breast feed and have that bond with her that i didn't get to with my son.

hollowway · October 2016

Baby will create the same stimulation, but better, that your pump will. So the nipple will get larger during nursing. Just make sure to sandwich the breast and get as much as your areola in babes mouth for a nice wide latch. You can also pump for a minute to enlarge your nipple, then latch baby.

erniebernie1 · October 2016

Mine were flat but we didn't have any real latching issues. It didn't take long for them to become more erect after breastfeeding for a few weeks. I ended up breastfeeding my son for 10 months, he is now 19 months, so 9 months since we stopped and they are still not flat anymore. It appears they have permanently become more erect from breastfeeding for a few months. I'm sure yours will do the same. Just try to direct your nipple t the roof of the the babies mouth at first to stimulate sucking

FirePoppy · October 2016

Ugh, yes. Inverted. I've heard that sometimes it works out no problem, other times it takes a bit more...so I've picked up breast shells, will try pumping first, and have a nipple shield if needed.

Also, you can always try a supplemental nursing system--you pump (or use formula), put it in this bottle and it drips through a tube so baby suckles on you, but gets the milk from the tube.

aquasocks · October 2016

These help a ton! Just be aware that these are breast shells, not breast shields which are more common and used to help with latching. You wear these when not feeding and it helps your nipple pop out more.

https://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-for-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B000058DPM

whaat · October 2016

Nipple question.. are flat or inverted nipples something you always have, or do they change once milk comes in? Or do you just not realize until then unless you've seen a lot of other people's nipples?

FirePoppy · October 2016

My understanding is that it can be either. Lots of women have them forever, some have them protrude during pregnancy--I don't think I've ever heard of nipples becoming flat or inverted due to pregnancy or nursing. (Also, outside of pregnancy/nursing, you're supposed to go to the dr if they suddenly change).

Like anything, I think your awareness is probably a combination of the severity of inversion and comparison to 'typical' nipples. You can "test" them using the technique here: https://www.llli.org/faq/flat.html

sasha_2013 · October 2016

Thank you all for the advice!! Can't wait till my baby girl is here n get to experience this bond

rencontrezmoi · October 2016

I have flat nipples, and the only reason I was able to BF my daughter was because of these nipple shields. I highly recommend them! https://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-Medium/dp/B000067PQ0/ref=sr_ph_1_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1477856294&sr=sr-1&keywords=medela+nipple&th=1

kristah2 · October 2016

Mine are the same and when I gave birth and I had to feed, they were so full they became even more flat because he area around was so hard. I used a nipple shield to get started and would remove oart way through the feed. By day 3 the area became soft enough and my nipples erect enough I didn't need it at all. Now with my milk coming in I can feel it getting really hard around the area again. I don't want to start pumping yet. If latching becomes an issue due to flat or size I will again use the shield partially until I'm soft enough again!
Don't worry too much!

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